Mail bag



Aug. 5, 1924. 1,503,961

- J. L. MARSHALL MAIL BAG Filed Oct. 21, 1922 Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

lTED STTS JAMES L. MARSHALL, OF ERCILDOUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL BAG.

Application filed October 21, 1922. Serial No. 595,928.

To all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, JAMES L. MARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ercildoun, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bags, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in mail bags, and more particularly to an improved metal frame secured within the open end of the mail bag and insuring a secure locking of the bag without the employment of straps such as in common use.

A further object is to provide improvements of this character in which the metal frame not only operates as a locking device, but also holds the bag in open position to conveniently receive the mail.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the mail bag in open position equipped with my improvements,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal section through the mail bag illustrating the position of the frame when the bag is locked,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 3-3 'of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one end of the bar 3.

1 represents an ordinary mail bag having the covering flap 2 at its open end. Inside the mail bag. at its open end, is located my improved locking frame which consists of four bars 3, 1, 5, and 6 respectively.

The bars 3 and 4 are connected by a hinge 7, the bars 4 and 5 are connected by a hinge S. and the bars 5 and 6 are connected by a hinge 9. All of the bars are secured to the inner face of the bag by rivets 10, and bar is provided at its free end with a lug 11 which projects through a slot 12 in bar 6.

hen the bag is in closed position, this lug 11 also projects through a slot 17 in bar 4, and then through an opening 13 in the bag, and through an opening 1 1 in the flap 2.

The lug 11 is provided With an opening 15 in its free end to receive a pad-lock 16 to secure all of the parts together and firmly hold the bag in closed position.

The bars 4 and 6 are preferably longer than the bars 3 and 5, so that when the bag is folded into closed position, the lug 11 will be projected through the slot 17 iii bar at, at a point removed from hinge 8, and the bag will lie comparatively flat in closed position so that the frame will not materially affect the appearance of the bag.

lVhile I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit my self to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a bag, of a frame secured within the open end of the bag and comprising a set of bars hinged together, two adjacent bars of said set having free ends, the free end of one bar having a perforated lug thereon, the free end of another bar having a slot therein to receive the lug, said lug also adapted to be projected through a slot in a third bar and thence through the bag.

2. The combination with a bag, of a frame secured within the open end of the bag and comprising a set of bars hinged together, two adjacent bars of said set having free ends, the free end of one bar having a perforated lug thereon, the free end of another bar having a slot therein to receive the lug, said lug also adapted to be projected through a slot in a third bar and thence through the bag, and a flap on the bag hav- J AMES L. MARSHALL. Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. G. (3001;, THOMAS DRAPER. 

